organpg IND Vs NZ, ICC Champions Trophy 2025: India Beat New Zealand By 44 Runs, Set To Face Australia In Semifinals

India's Axar Patel celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Kane Williamson with his team mates during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. AP Photo/Altaf Qadri India's Axar Patel celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Kane Williamson with his team mates during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between India and New Zealand at Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

India restricted New Zealand to 205 runs while defending a 250-run target in their last Group A match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium to win by 44 runs on Sundayorganpg, 2 March 2025. (Match Blog | Full Coverage)

The Indian captain Rohit Sharma lost the toss again and were asked to bat first for the first time in the tournament. Varun Chakravarthy was included in the playing XI in place of seamer Harshit Rana. New Zealand also made one change by bringing in Daryl Mitchell in place of Devon Conway.

India Vs New Zealand: Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy

New Zealand: Will Young, Rachin Ravindra, Kane Williamson, Daryl Mitchell,66br.com Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, William O'Rourke

India lost three early wickets of Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli inside the first powerplay. Glenn Phillips took a blinder at the point to dismiss Kohli, who was playing his 300th ODI match in Dubai.

Shreyas Iyer (79 off 98 balls) scored yet another big knock against Kiwis to take his team to a respectable position. He added 98 runs for the fourth wicket with Axar Patel and 44 runs with KL Rahul for the fifth wicket.

Hardik Pandya (45) and Patel (42) played crucial knocks to help India post a modest total of 249 runs after 50 overs. Matt Henry took a five-wicket haul for New Zealand.

In response, Will Young and Rachin Ravindra came to open the batting for New Zealand. Pandya got rid of Ravindra when Axar Patel took a diving catch at the third man in the fourth over.

Kane Williamson (81) played a vital knock and helped in making partnerships with many Kiwi batters after the dismissal of Will Young. Chakravarthy was introduced into the attack in the 10th over and he dismissed Young in his second over.

Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Daryl Mitchell and Ravindra Jadeja got rid of Tom Latham, which paved the way for Chakravarthy who completely destroyed the Kiwi middle-order with his four more wickets.

Williamson tried to charge against the Indian spinners but he was trapped by Axar Patel in a stumping. Chakravarthy took no time to finish the match with his five-for.

Kuldeep took the final wicket of the match when he bowled William O'Rourke in the 46th over. India won the match by 44 runs to remain unbeaten in the tournament.

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Now, they will face the world-champions Australia in the first semi-final match on Tuesday, 4 March 2025 at the same venue. South Africa will travel back to Lahore where they will face New Zealand in the second semi-final on Wednesday, 5 March.

BY Outlook Entertainment Desk

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